Diagnose my SNES

[Nintendork]

Been ithcing to get back to playing some SNES classics lately in their true form (not emulated). I went to hook up the old SNES today and seem to be having some video problems.

I am hooking the SNES using either RF cable or AV cables (whichever is fine with me) but both methods appear to be showing just a black screen with no audio. I assure you the hook-ups are accurate as I have done this about 50 times to date with this one system. But this is my first time hooking it up to a TV with digital cable (Comcast), if that has anything to do with it.

Looking for some ideas but hoping a good cleaning will be the simple solution. I'll try cleaning it later and report back with an update, but in the meantime let's assume the cleaning is not the fix. Any ideas?

Thanks guys.

[BetaWolf47]

I wish more people would clean their stuff before asking for help, because that's what causes the vast majority of 15+ year old games to not work. It sounds like the case here, too.

[Nintendork]

Well I wish I could say that a good cleaning was just the trick but it is not. Now my fear is that it is a connector problem. I made sure to clean the inside of the system as well as a good copy of Super Mario Kart, Super Mario World, F-Zero, Star Fox, Legend of Zelda and Ken Griffey Jr Presents Major League Baseball.

Any suggestions?

[tpugmire]

Is the power light coming on?

[Nintendork]

Yes, the power light comes on and the screen goes from the static that typically stands on channel 4 to just a blank black screen. No audio either.

[tpugmire]

Sounds like a bad/dirty cart connector. If you've cleaned the connector as best as you can and it still won't work, I'd replace it. If it's a model 1, you need this connector:
http://www.nesrepairshop.com/online_shopping/index.php?productID=481

I'm not sure if that connector will work with a model 2 because I've never seen the insides of one. Also check to see if your existing connector is soldered in. From what I gather, the earlier ones were held in by 2 phillips head screws, later ones were soldered in place.

Alternatively, depending on what the used game market is like where you live, it may be cheaper to just buy a whole new console. With shipping, that connector ends up being about $18.00, while locally I've seen complete consoles with a game or 2 for around $20.00-$25.00

[Nintendork]

Thanks for the tip. This is one of the first SNES systems on the market so I'm guessing it is the connector. Glad to see that it is just $15 to replace. I have a tough time even finding a used SNES in any stores around me these days, although I suppose if I had to I could go on ebay.

I'll try my hand at replacing the connector, because that is what I had a feeling it might b in the first place. I've been through a lot with this system and from a sentimental standpoint I'd hate to have to get rid of it.

Thanks!

[BetaWolf47]

You really should give the games and system a deeper cleaning first. Between all of my systems, I've never, ever had to replace the contacts.